Britain’s position is not negotiable

Britain yesterday dismissed Argentina’s threat to complain to the United Nations over the disputed Falkland Islands, saying that it would not negotiate and that the UN charter backed its position.

It also rejected claims that it was militarising the South Atlantic.

Argentine President Cristina Kirchner said on Tuesday she would make a formal protest to the UN over Britain’s “militarisation” of the row, which has flared up again 30 years after the two countries fought a war over the islands.

“The UK has no doubt about our sovereignty over the Falklands,” a Foreign Office spokesman said.

“The principle of self-determination, as set out in the UN Charter, underlines our position,” she added.

“The people of the Falkland Islands are British out of choice. They are free to determine their own future and there will be no negotiations with Argentina on sovereignty unless the islanders wish it.”

Britain is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and could automatically veto any attempt at a resolution on the issue. It has held the islands, home to about 3,000 inhabitants, since 1833.

Argentina has in recent weeks denounced the deployment of a British warship to the south Atlantic and the dispatch of Prince William, second in line to the throne, for a tour of duty as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.

Dick Sawle, a member of the legislature of the Falkland Islands, said he welcomed Argentina’s plan to protest to the UN.

“The reason why I welcome that is that the UN ought to look at the decisions it has made in the past which favour self-determination,” he told BBC radio.

Mr Sawle said that Falkland Islanders “do not wish to be taken over in any way, shape or form by Argentina, that is absolutely fundamental”.